Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Oh Those Anti-Semetic Jews

Having opposed the Israel invasion of Gaza, I know all too well how quickly one becomes branded as an anti-semite. So, are these 150 Jews now anti-semites too?

Jewish Canadians Concerned about Suppression of Criticism of Israel

PLEASE POST THIS ON YOUR BLOG - FIGHT THE MYTH THAT THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IS A MONOLITH

This statement was rejected by both the Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail (as an op-ed). Please help this important statement get into broad circulation - pass it on to your networks (faculty, community, MPs, university presidents, unions etc.). You may also wish to write to the Star and Globe and express your dismay that they have chosen not to publish it.

Over 150 Jewish Canadians signed a statement expressing their concerns about the campaign to suppress criticism of Israel that is being carried on within Canada. The signatories include many prominent Canadians, including Ursula Franklin O.C., Anton Kuerti O.C., Naomi Klein, Dr. Gabor Mate, and professors Meyer Brownstone (recipient of Pearson Peace Medal), Natalie Zemon Davis, Michael Neumann, and Judy Rebick. *

The signatories are particularly concerned that unfounded accusations of anti-Semitism deflect attention from Israel’s accountability for what many have called war crimes in Gaza. They state that B’nai Brith and the Canadian Jewish Congress have led campaigns to silence criticism of Israel on university campuses, in labor unions and in other groups. Immigration Minister Jason Kenney and Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff unquestioningly echo the views of these particular Jewish organizations.

They strongly state that they are against all expressions of racism. While firmly committed to resisting any form of prejudice against Jewish people, their statement explicitly states that these spurious allegations of anti-Semitism bring the anti-Communist terror of the 1950s vividly to mind.

The statement underlines the immeasurable suffering and injustice to the Palestinian people due to the severe poverty, daily humiliations, and military invasions inflicted by the State of Israel.

Statement: Jewish Canadians Concerned about Suppression of Criticism of Israel

We are Jewish Canadians concerned about all expressions of racism, anti-Semitism, and social injustice. We believe that the Holocaust legacy "Never again" means never again for all peoples. It is a tragic turn of history that the State of Israel, with its ideals of democracy and its dream of being a safe haven for Jewish people, causes immeasurable suffering and injustice to the Palestinian people.

We are appalled by recent attempts of prominent Jewish organizations and leading Canadian politicians to silence protest against the State of Israel. We are alarmed by the escalation of fear tactics. Charges that those organizing Israel Apartheid Week or supporting an academic boycott of Israel are anti-Semites promoting hatred bring the anti-Communist terror of the 1950s vividly to mind. We believe this serves to deflect attention from Israel’s flagrant violations of international humanitarian law.

B’nai Brith and the Canadian Jewish Congress have pressured university presidents and administrations to silence debate and discussion specifically regarding Palestine/Israel. In a full-page ad in a national newspaper, B’nai Brith urged donors to withhold funds from universities because "anti-Semitic hate fests" were being allowed on campuses. Immigration Minister Jason Kenney and Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff have echoed these arguments. While university administrators have resisted demands to shut down Israel Apartheid week, some Ontario university presidents have bowed to this disinformation campaign by suspending and fining students, confiscating posters, and infringing on free speech.

We do not believe that Israel acts in self-defense. Israel is the largest recipient of US foreign aid, receiving $3 million/day. It has the fourth strongest army in the world. Before the invasion of Gaza on 27 December 2008, Israel’s siege had already created a humanitarian catastrophe there, with severe impoverishment, malnutrition, and destroyed infrastructure. It is crucial that forums for discussion of Israel’s accountability to the international community for what many have called war crimes be allowed to proceed unrestricted by specious claims of anti-Semitism.

We recognize that anti-Semitism is a reality in Canada as elsewhere, and we are fully committed to resisting any act of hatred against Jews. At the same time, we condemn false charges of anti-Semitism against student organizations, unions, and other groups and people exercising their democratic right to freedom of speech and association regarding legitimate criticism of the State of Israel.

10 comments:

C-Nuck said... The answer is yes, they are Jews against the Jewish State.

They are way outside the mainstream of the Jewish Community.

Abie Weizfeld and Freda Guttman for instance have long protested alongside Hamas and Hizbollah supporters against Israel.

Many of these people (I do not know them all) would not be allowed to participate in the activities of J-Street)

J-Street is a left-wing peace group, but they are Zionists and proud supporters of Israel. Abie and Freda (and others on your list) are not.

There is no Jewish or Israel group that funds or supports this group or a few others like it. They are way out of the mainstream. They have no office, no organization, no synagogue or other recognizable institution within the Jewish Community that they have built, maintained or supported. They were (I assume) born Jewish. Those that I know in the list have not found any expression of their Jewishness other than to critique the State of Israel for years on end.

Align yourself with this group if you want. Just don't call yourself a supporter of Israel anymore because those people are not.

So the State of Israel is an institution now? Perhaps there is another solution that we never even contemplated. Designate part of Jerusalem as a Jewish Vatican City and create a modern state that is a vibrant and diverse democracy that gives equal rights to all religions and cultures.

Wow what an original a novel suggestion to make Jerusalem a "neutral" city - NOT !!

The Partition plan of 1947 had Jerusalem as an International City.

Jordan seized the City and no Jew was allowed at the Western Wall (Judaism Holiest site) from 1947-1967. And no one in the International Community cared or raised their voice in protest. Not one single UN Resolution calling on Jews to be allowed to pray at their most important site.

Been there done that, no thanks Beijing.

Jerusalem has never been more open then under Israeli rule.

There is only one spot in Jerusalem tha does not maintain equality. On the Waqf (Muslim Religious Authority) Temple Mount, Jews and Christians are barred from entering the Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque.

You read me wrong. The model would make the State of Israel and occupied Palestinian territories into one secular and diverse state while an enclave in Jerusalem would be designated a Jewish equivalent of the Catholic Vatican City.

Beijing:So what you propose is the so-called "One State Solution" which in effect means abolishing the Jewish State of Israel. It is Hamas' preferred option. Demographics will allow Hamas to create an Islamic State within in a generation in a one-State solution.

Why is it, that reasonable people, such as yourself, cannot fathom the idea that just one country in the world can be for the Jewish people. One country, that runs its affairs according to Jewish tradition and customs. One country that celebrates the new year according to the lunar calendar and not the gregorian calendar. One country that has Passover as a legal holiday and not Good Friday and Easter Monday, One country that's common pause day is Saturday and not Sunday (or Friday as in Muslim countries). One country where a Jewish Star is displayed on the national flag and not a cross (Britain, Quebec, Switzerland) or a Crescent of Islam. One country thats official language is the ancient language of its Aboriginal peoples. One country that maintains national sovereignty of its people's most treasured ancient and historic beginings.

J-Street, as a Zionist organizations supports all that.Those who want to abolish the State of Israel, like the 150 who signed the letter, ultimately call for one State.

They are way out of the mainstream. They have no office, no organization, no synagogue or other recognizable institution within the Jewish Community that they have built, maintained or supported.

I wasn't aware that all this was necessary to have an opinion worth listening to.

And, certainly, this comment is just offensive:

There is no Jewish or Israel group that funds or supports this group or a few others like it. They are way out of the mainstream.

Are you seriously trying to argue that the validity of the opinions of a group of Jewish people is dependent on whether they have a "Jewish or Israel group that funds or supports" them? Or whether they're "mainstream"?

I can see disagreeing with them. I'm not terribly fond of the one-state solution and don't necessarily think it's workable either. But to sum up this discussion as "money talks" does everybody a grave disservice, and reinforces both their claims of suppression and the the more alarmist (and unwarranted) claims of real anti-semites.